What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).

Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	Sidney
People
Population	1,577Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Sharon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Sharon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Sharon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sharon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Sharon School District	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.